Motivation (3)
After devouring our burgers with gusto, we cleared the tray and the rest of the trash.
"Ah, that hit the spot."
"Oppa, thanks for the meal. If I get into Jinhan University, I'll definitely treat you next time."
What a sweet thing to say. She wants to boost her scores even higher to get into Jinhan University, become my junior, and buy me a meal. How could anyone be this good?
"Sounds good. I'll be looking forward to it."
"Yes, really look forward to it~"
Na-eun flashed a mischievous yet vibrant smile before humming her way out. I followed close behind her, asking as we went.
"So, Na-eun, where do you want to go next?"
"I want to check out the nursing department building."
"Nursing? Hmm~ Is there a separate nursing college?"
I felt a little bad for her, but I hadn't spent much time on campus. Never went to festivals or MTs. I'd just game with Seung-min and my high school buddies during that time. So even if someone mentioned a department, I had no clue which building it was in. I quickly searched on my phone: Jinhan University Nursing Department. Boom, instant results.
"Looks like we head to the College of Nursing Sciences."
"How long will that take?"
"Walking? About ten minutes."
"Ten minutes..."
I caught her slight grimace, but what could we do? Ten minutes on foot wasn't bad. So I led her toward the College of Nursing Sciences.
"Let's walk it off and digest," I said, trying to convince her.
Luckily, her grimace seemed like an act—she fell right into step beside me without complaint.
"The campus is so huge... Just getting around feels exhausting."
"Right? That's why you gotta be smart about course registration later."
"What do you mean?"
What else? "Pick wrong, and you might have to sprint from one end of campus to the other."
It meant a ton of walking. I remember someone in my department messing up their schedule and full-on sprinting after one lecture to make the next. The building was clear across campus, and even busting a gut only got you there in ten minutes.
"Whoa... I don't want that."
"Screw up, and that could be your future. Before registering for electives, always check the building first."
"Got it~"
Her response was sharp yet soft, warming me up inside. That gentle, peaceful voice made me smile without thinking. To change the subject, I asked,
"Legs not hurting?"
"Nope~ Not from this much~"
"Guess all that running after me paid off."
"Pfft... Yeah, chasing you around was good training."
"Maybe I should pick up the pace more?"
"Huh?"
Her flustered look cracked me up even harder. How is a person this cute? Made me wonder what it'd be like to have a little sister. Not a big sis like Seong, but an actual dongsaeng.
I pictured it: Seong as a little sister instead...
...Yeah, that'd be way worse. At least with an older sis, I get allowance. A little sis? I'd be shelling it out. Just swapping roles doubles the hassle—thank God it's not reality.
Seung-min, that guy's truly blessed. A sweet kid like this as a sister? Jackpot.
"Oppa, what're you thinking so hard about?"
"Hmm... What if I had a little sister?"
Na-eun looked up at me and replied, "You'd treat her amazing."
"Eh... If she was like Seong, no way."
"Aww, come on~ You treat me so well."
"That's 'cause it's you. Only you."
"Huh?"
She blinked at me, flustered. Had I said something wrong? I elaborated.
"You're kind, upbeat, great with people. You treat me like oppa, so I treat you right."
"...It's 'cause you're a good person that I act this way. I wouldn't with someone I didn't like."
Her bright voice carried a calm certainty that caught me off guard. Na-eun could say stuff like that too, huh. And yeah, it felt kinda special—like I was someone special to her. She doesn't play nice with people she dislikes, but with me? All sweet and sunny. Maybe I'm not half bad after all. She boosts even an old guy's self-esteem like that. Is there anyone as great as her? Seung-min, you're one lucky bastard. For real.
Jealousy burning toward Seung-min for having a sister like this, we kept walking—and suddenly, we were at the College of Nursing Sciences. The second Na-eun laid eyes on the building, she cracked up with the funniest comment.
"...It's huge."
"Right? Gotta be seven or eight stories."
Maybe more. Nursing programs have tons of classes and labs, so they need the space.
"But oppa, all these buildings for nursing?"
"Yeah, the whole complex."
Our school has four nursing buildings alone. I'd just learned that from my search.
"That's... massive..."
"What? My engineering department uses four too."
"No wonder the campus is so big."
"Exactly."
I nodded along with her, then beckoned. "Wanna go in?"
"...Can I really?"
"Of course. Come on."
"Okay... Excuse me..."
Following my lead, she stepped inside and started peeking around: regular classrooms, labs, AV rooms, you name it. Some grad students slaved away like drones, glued to their computers without noticing us. I silently thanked those hardworking TAs and dragged Na-eun around some more.
She examined every corner with wide-eyed fascination.
"Whoa..."
That was her reaction to each one. So cute. Classic high schooler seeing college for the first time. Was I like that?
"It's so different from high school..."
"Totally. I was shocked too."
I barely remembered, but faked some empathy anyway. She beamed back.
"Makes sense. My schools were just one or two buildings—no classrooms this big."
Her high-schooler word choice made her even cuter.
"Vending machines too."
"Whoa, instant ramen ones?"
I was surprised too. Why ramen here? But I got it—night owls pulling all-nighters needed 'em.
"People don't actually eat all their meals here, right...?"
The lounge looked comfy enough, but she eyed it warily. I shrugged lightly.
"If you've got friends or student council ties, crash in a department lounge."
"Department lounge?"
Her eyes sparkled. I suddenly wanted to show her ours. Minor issue: it had a code, and I didn't know it. Checked the group chat... jackpot, posted in announcements.
Time to take her.
"Hey, Na-eun."
"Yeah, oppa?"
"Just maybe..."
She nodded eagerly at my trailing words. Soon after, we left nursing and headed to the College of Engineering—my department building, seventh floor. Punched in the code at a certain lecture hall door...
And there was our department lounge. Welcomed by a whiteboard scrawled with curses.
Exams over, you idiots! Run for your lives!
I followed Seonwoo oppa to the department lounge.
Sounds weird, but in those webtoons, lounges are where "adult stuff" goes down. I don't buy it as reality, but hey, the romantic thrill of something exciting happening in a place like this? Kinda there.
But...
Exams over, you idiots! Run for your lives!
...That whiteboard shattered any illusions the second I saw it.
This wasn't a lounge full of love and romance. It was the battleground for engineering students suffering in the real world.
"Grab a comfy seat?"
"Ah... Sure..."
I sat where Seonwoo oppa guided me and sipped the instant cocoa he made.
"But oppa, is it okay to just hang here?"
"Why not? No one's around today. Exams just ended—no way anyone's here. Weekend too. Better study in a reading room or library anyway."
"Ahh..."
Makes sense. Post-exams, who'd stick around? Everyone's out playing. Oppa will probably grind here next semester. Maybe pull all-nighters. Catch eyes with some girl, get close...
...Nah, no way. From what he says and does, he doesn't come here much.
That thought? Kinda makes me happy. He's only here for me. All this consideration, this kindness—it's so cool and lovable. So very much.